At Joe Brown Park in New Orleans East, organizers planned for 100 children.

A whopping 300 turned out.

"There's a thirst in our community for knowledge, for education, for hands-on activity, and more importantly, some hope," said Mackie.

"And when you see these kids, you see their eyes are lighting up. They're building all kinds of things," said New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu.

Landrieu said the city's partnership with STEM-NOLA involves the use of a NORD facility on the second Saturday of every month.

"The point is to give young children the opportunity to really exercise their brain and get really, really smart and to really get smart at core curriculum. That's important so that the United States can stay competitive," said Landrieu.

STEM Saturdays has several target sites. Next month it will be held at the Treme Center.